Athena Zandrite
Karma's a pain, save suffering, don't steal. Thanks to those who reviewed, in response to Kuwabara already having the sixth sense to be able to sense youki, indeed, he can sense it, though quite often he can't tell where it's coming from just the general area, he hasn't refined the ability so it isn't reliable. It would be a neat idea for another fanfic to really hone his character though, help him improve some of those things, he has loads of potential and grows quickly. Of course, most of the Tantei can sense youki, including Botan. And yes, eventually Yukina will appear though she only plays a small role.
Botan pants as she catches up to Aya. "Mou, you're quick for a ningen." She says trying to take longer strides before giving up and just jogging next to him.
"Hn." He mumbles, checking the watch and moving on.
Botan reaches out and tentatively clutches the fabric of his jacket arm. "Ran-san.." her voice is timid.
He stops abruptly and his body is tense, taught like the hair on a violin bow. Botan watches him curiously. Suddenly he turns, eyes flashing with anger, inches from her wide frightened violet eyes. "Never," His teeth are clenched and he hisses rather than speaks, "touch me."
Her hand drops from his sleeve and she trembles slightly.
"My name is not Ran. Ran is dead, don't call me that."
She gulps but can't back away, as though her feet are glued to the street. "But he's NOT dead!" She blurts out, flinching away.
Aya regards her for a moment. "You don't know me." He practically spits it out.
Botan frowns. "I met them." She says quietly.
"Met who?"
"Your parents." She says and watches a range of emotions flicker across his face. Finally he settles on rage. He roughly grabs her arm and yanks her into an alley, slamming her up against a wall and wrapping his long fingers around her neck.
"Don't bullshit me." He growls, voice trembling with fury as his fingers spasmodically tighten on her neck. "Don't EVER take me lightly."
Her hands fly up to her neck, trying to pry his fingers from her throat. "They…" she nearly gags, "I took them to Enma-sama!" She feels tears drip in wet paths down her cheeks from the pain, her vision swims and black specks dance in front of her eyes.
Aya's fist tightens and then he lets go of her. Her feet hit the ground and her legs give out under her as her whole body slides down the wall. Aya stares at where her neck had been and she gulps in breaths of air like someone would gulp water after hiking in the desert for three days. Her hand tenderly touches her neck and she flinches feeling what will soon become a new bruise. She continues anyway. "They were so worried about you and Aya, especially after she was hurt. It was all I could do to get them to Enma-sama." Her voice is sad. "They don't know what you do now…" she whispers "It would make your mother so sad."
She winces as he punches a wall. "But Ran, they love you. Nothing will change that, even if you kill people, they will always care about you." She stands unsteadily and puts a hand on his shoulder. "But they want you to be happy. And I'm sure they want you to be Ran."
His jaw tenses and then slacks. "That's impossible, not until I kill Takatori. They will be avenged."
Botan purses her lips. "They didn't ask to be avenged." She says, "All they cared about, was the two of you."
His head drops, chin connecting to chest. "But… Aya is … she's…"
"Aya will live. She'll wake up." Botan looks up at him before pulling herself to her feet.
Aya's eyes snap to her. "When?"
Botan blinks then slaps her hands over her mouth. "Ah… oh shoot." She squeezes her eyes shut. "That's classified. I've already said too much."
Aya grabs the collar of her jacket, desperation in his eyes. "You know when she'll wake up, tell me… please!"
Botan looks close to tears. "I… I can't tell you. Just have faith."
"Please! I've waited so long." He is going to press further but the watch starts beeping. Both people stop moving for a moment, not fully comprehending the sound. Finally Botan grabs Aya's wrist and looks at the watch. The youkai is only 15 meters away. She begins tugging him out of the alley, watching the watch. As they turn the corner they see him.
His cheeks are sallow, dark rings under his eyes give his face the impression of more skull than living being. He stands leaning on a nearby post, before straightening and following a business woman into a side street. Aya moves to follow but Botan shakes her head. "Even weak, we're no match for him." She whispers. "We just have to see where he goes."
"Shouldn't we follow him then?" Aya states impatiently.
Botan frowns. "Ok, but be careful." They slowly make their way to the street. Aya peers around and stops, causing Botan to bump into him. "What's wrong?"
Botan peeks over Aya's shoulder, then gasps. She runs forward, pressing her fingers to the business woman's forehead. "It's gone." She frowns and Aya watches her wondering what she means. "Her soul" she explains. "He just took it. And it looks like it was just absorbed, no damage at all." She turns the woman's face toward herself. "And it was either sudden or painless. She looks calm."
"We're going to loose him." Aya reminds her.
"Oh! Sorry." She stands and they return to their chase.
Kurama stops under a tree and Youji and Ken look at each other warily.
Hiei, come down." There is silence for a moment, then a soft rustle of leaves. Ken and Youji blink as what looks like a child, with spikey black and white hair, appears as though by magic.
"What do you want." Hiei looks irritated and his scarlet eyes shift toward the humans with obvious distaste.
"Remember the kid that took Yuusuke?" Kurama asks him and continues when Hiei inclines his head to indicate he does. "These are his friends."
"Hn." Hiei grumbles eyeing first Ken, taking in the baggy jeans, T-shirt and bright orange sweatshirt around his waist. He turns his attention to Youji, starting at the wavy shoulder-length hair, then the close fitting v-neck shirt and kaki slacks. "Are they hostages?" His red eyes return to Kurama.
"No Hiei. Their friend is captured as well as Yuusuke." Kurama explains. "This is Youji and Ken."
Hiei doesn't even look back at them. "They'll be in the way."
Ken growls clenching his teeth and Youji steps forward to protest but Kurama speaks first. "Hiei, give them a chance before you say that." They appear to watch each other for a moment before Hiei shrugs and turns away. "It's not my problem."
Kurama looks strained but composed. "We'll need your help, do I have to wait for KoEnma to order you to lend a hand?" His voice is cool and he watches Hiei.
"Che." Hiei glares at Kurama over his shoulder. He blinks from where he is to right under Kurama's nose. "Don't threaten me, fox." Then he is gone.
Youji looks as though he's about to twitch, and Ken's jaw is dropped.
"What the hell?! The kid just disappears!" Ken exclaims looking around as though he expects Hiei to suddenly re-materialize.
"Not disappear, he's just so fast your eyes can't keep up with him." Kurama explains, sighing. "You'll probably see him again."
Youji frowns, "Not much of a team player, is he."
Kurama smiles. "He's a bit like your Aya."
Ken chuckles. "That explains it, permanently grumpy."
"Let's go see the girls." Kurama says, turning to go.
"Girls?" Youji immediately perks up.
"Don't embarrass me, Youji." Ken says reprimandingly, grinning at Youji's dirty look.
"Aaara…" Botan looks in awe at the old house. The gate is padlocked shut and a condemned sign displays across it. The entire yard is overgrown with weeds, and ivy covers a good deal of the house, shingles are missing from the roof, shutters hang in disarray from the windows. Most of the windows are broken or boarded shut. The paint is peeling and flaking off like dead skin. The house looks depressed, sagging in some places. "It's like something out of those awful horror movies Yuusuke talks me into." She frowns in consternation. "I think he just likes to laugh at me when I get scared." She touches the gate thoughtfully. "I'll bet it was pretty in it's prime…"
Aya looks at the watch with a death glare. "You sure this thing is working? How did he get in there?"
Botan frowns. "Of course it's working, it was just fixed. He probably jumped the fence."
Aya looks at the eight foot fence then at Botan.
"What?" she blinks at him. "He's a youkai, remember? This is nothing." She gasps as he takes hold of the fence and starts to climb. "What are you doing?!"
"Climbing."
"You can't!" Botan pulls on his leg making him stop.
"Let go." He glares down at her and she glares back.
"No! You have to wait for Kurama and Kuwa-chan."
"I said. Let. Go." Aya is ticked off.
Botan is nearly panicked. "I can't, KoEnma-sama would be furious if I let you get caught!" She tugs on the ankle she is holding. "Please?"
Aya looks at the house again, eyes searching for any sign of the Youkai disguised as Omi, or the boy himself. Finally he makes his way back down the fence, turning to Botan. "What do we do now then?"
Botan looks thoughtful. "Lets find Kurama."